Lobby

SPECIALTY SPACES lobby

A parent coming with their child to the Therapeutic Center for the first time needs to feel comfort. It is an extremely stressful moment in their family’s life. They need support and hope. The lobby is the first space they experience. The arrival sequence needs to help establish a calm steady influence. It needs to feel like a safe space. The space needs to feel hopeful. When a family parks their car, they need clear wayfinding to help them get to the reception and start their process without impediment. For the families that have been there before, the lobby should feel comforting and familiar. Hope is one of the most restorative feelings.

There should be various levels of light so families can find a comfortable setting. There should be great visibility to allow people to feel like they control their environment. Security is a major concern. There needs to be protective barriers but at the same time, those barriers need to not be obvious. The lobby should be a warm environment, with natural finishes and proper acoustics. It should be the kind of space that allows

everyone to catch their breath before their next steps.

Figure 53 Figure 54